Hyderabad, May 11 (RAHNUMA): Union minister G. Kishan Reddy said Indian Railways has taken a significant step in pharmaceutical transportation with the launch of the country’s first dedicated pharma cargo train, the “Aushadhi Express”, under the Centre’s ambitious PM Gati Shakti initiative.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the Union Minister said the refrigerated train service, launched on May 2, will transport pharmaceutical products from Hyderabad — widely regarded as the Pharma Capital of India — to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for domestic and international distribution.
Kishan Reddy thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for allocating the inaugural regular “Aushadhi Express” service to Telangana. The reefer train equipped with advanced cold-storage facilities would greatly benefit pharmaceutical companies located in Hyderabad’s Genome Valley, Jeedimetla Industrial Area, Patancheru Pharma Zone and Future City in Mucherla by ensuring safe and timely transport of temperature-sensitive medicines, he added.
According to the Minister, the service operates from the Inland Container Depot at Sanath Nagar under Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR). Diesel-powered reefer containers are being used throughout the journey to maintain uninterrupted refrigeration and preserve drug quality.
Kishan Reddy said the initiative strengthens cold-chain connectivity, reduces transit time and lowers operational costs while improving the pharmaceutical supply chain ecosystem. He added that though the train currently operates once a week, efforts are underway to increase the frequency to twice weekly based on market demand and trade requirements
